Beavers building a home at Point Pelee

For the first time in its history, Point Pelee National Park could be home to a family of beavers.

Park visitor Ellen Smout spotted the pair May 14 when experimenting with her new camera.

"I saw what I thought were muskrats. As I got closer I thought they were pretty big," Smout said.

She then filmed one building a beaver lodge while another lounged up stream.

Park naturalist Dan Dufour said it's not uncommon to find a lone beaver wandering through the park - one was spotted in the parking lot last year.

But to have a pair of them working together is a first.

"To me, this is a really good sign. Normally, if it’s just a random male or female wandering around, it would indicate they are expanding their range looking for a mate. But to find two means they are looking to have a family," Dufour explained. "Two males or two females together at this time of year wouldn’t make sense."

Dufour said the lodge is relatively small at approximately two metres wide and one metre high.

The beavers are building it under the only tree - a black willow - along the marsh boardwalk.